Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Contamination Status of Seven Elements in Hooded Cranes Wintering in South-West Kyushu, Japan: Comparison with Red-Crowned Cranes in Hokkaido, Japan

  • Published:
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The hooded crane is designated as an endangered species. The cranes breed primarily in wetlands in southeast Russia and China in summer. Most of the hooded crane population winters in the Izumi plain in Japan. It is difficult to know the contamination status of their habitat because of their vast breeding area. We determined the levels of Cd, Pb, As, (total) Hg, Se, Zn, and Cu in the liver, kidney, and muscle of hooded cranes that were found dead in Izumi in the periods 2003–2006 and 2014–2015 compared with the levels in red-crowned cranes in Hokkaido, Japan, as the only cranes in which these elements had been studied extensively. There were no notable differences between levels of the seven elements in the two periods. Overall, tissue levels of the elements examined in hooded cranes were comparable to those in red-crowned cranes except for Hg and Se. Tissue levels of Hg and Se were clearly lower in hooded cranes than in red-crowned cranes that were found dead from 2000. One lead poisoning case was confirmed. The results suggest that Hooded cranes wintering in Izumi are not extensively contaminated with the seven elements examined.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Boltrushko VM (2001) Natural environment state and nature conservation activity in Khabarovsk Krai in 2000, vol 2001. Department for Natural Resources of Far East Region, Khabarovsk, p 157

    Google Scholar 

  • Burger J (1996) Heavy metal and selenium levels in feathers of Franklin’s gulls in interior North America. The Auk 113:399–407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen JB, Barclay JS, Major AR, Fisher JP (2000) Wintering greater scaup as biomonitors of metal contamination in federal wildlife refuges in the Long Island region. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 38:83–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Di Giulio RT, Scanlon PF (1984) Heavy metals in tissues of waterfowl from the Chesapeake Bay, USA. Environ Pollut Ser A 35:29–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goyer AR (1997) Toxic and essential metal interactions. Ann Rev Nutr 17:37–50

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haraguchi Y, Yoshino T, Takase K (2016) Numbers of dead cranes found at Izumi Plain, Japan (2003–2013), and their postmortem findings. Jpn J Ornithol 65:153–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henriksson K, Karppanen E, Helminen M (1966) High residue of mercury in Finnish white-tailed eagles. Ornis Fenn 43:38–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Hiraga T, Ohyama K, Hashigaya A, Ishikawa T, Muramoto W, Kitagawa H, Mizuno N, Teraoka H (2008) Lead exposure induces pycnosis and enucleation of peripheral erythrocytes in the domestic fowl. Vet J 178:109–114

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hui A, Takekawa JY, Baranyuk VV, Litvin KV (1998) Trace element concentrations in two subpopulations of lesser snow geese from Wrangel Island, Russia. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 34:197–203

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Inoue M, Shimura R, Uebayashi A, Ikoma S, Iima H, Sumiyoshi T, Teraoka H, Makita K, Hiraga T, Momose K, Masatomi H (2013) Physical body parameters of red-crowned cranes Grus japonensis by sex and life stage in eastern Hokkaido, Japan. J Vet Med Sci 75:1055–1060

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janssens E, Dauwe T, Pinxten R, Eens M (2003) Breeding performance of great tits (Parus major) along a gradient of heavy metal pollution. Environ Toxicol Chem 22:1140–1145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan MA, Wang F (2009) Mercury-selenium compounds and their toxicological significance: toward a molecular understanding of the mercury-selenium antagonism. Environ Toxicol Chem 28:1567–1577

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim EY, Murakami T, Saeki K, Tatsukawa R (1996) Mercury levels and its chemical form in tissues and organs of seabirds. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 30:259–266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koch I, Mace JV, Reimer KJ (2005) Arsenic speciation in terrestrial birds from Yellowknife Northwest Territories, Canada: the unexpected finding of arsenobetaine. Environ Toxicol Chem 24:1468–1474

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koeman JH, Vink JAJ, de Goeij JJM (1969) Causes of mortality in birds of prey and owls in the Netherlands in the winter of 1968–1969. Ardea 57:67–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozhenkova SI, Khristoforova TK, Chernova EN (2000) Long-term monitoring of sea water pollution by heavy metals in Northern Primorye with the use of brown algae. Russ J Ecol 31:211–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kunito T, Kubota R, Fujihara J, Agusa T, Tanabe S (2008) Arsenic in marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles. In: Whitacre DM (ed) Reviews of environmental contamination and toxicology. Springer, New York, pp 31–69

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lee DP, Honda K, Tatsukawa R (1987) Comparison with tissue distribution of heavy metals in birds in Japan and Korea. J Yamashina Inst Ornith 19:103–116 (in Japanese with English Abstract, and legend for Figures and Tables)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lucia M, Bocher P, Cosson RP, Churlaud C, Bustamante P (2012) Evidence of species-specific detoxification processes for trace elements in shorebirds. Ecotoxicology 21:2349–2362

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Masatomi H (2000) The all of Tancho. Hokkaido Shimbun Press, Sapporo (in Japanese with English legend for Figures and Tables)

    Google Scholar 

  • Masatomi H (2004) Individual (non-social) behavioral acts of hooded cranes Grus monacha wintering in Izumi, Japan. J Ethol 22:69–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meine CD, Archibald GW (1996) The cranes: status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN, Gland

    Google Scholar 

  • Nam DH, Kim EY, Iwata H, Tanabe S (2007) Molecular characterization of two metallothionein isoforms in avian species: evolutionary history, tissue distribution profile, and expression associated with metal accumulation. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 145:295–305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okuya K, Kawabata T, Nagano K, Tsukiyama-Kohara K, Kusumoto I, Takase K, Ozawa M (2015) Isolation and characterization of influenza A viruses from environmental water at an overwintering site of migratory birds in Japan. Arch Virol 160:3037–3052

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez-Virosta P, Espín S, García-Fernández AJ, Eeva T (2015) A review on exposure and effects of arsenic in passerine birds. Sci Total Environ 512–513:506–525

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scheuhammer AM (1987) The chronic toxicity of aluminium, cadmium, mercury, and lead in birds: a review. Environ Pollut 46:263–295

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shadrina E, Vol’pert Y, Soldatova V, Alekseeva N, Pudova T (2014) Evaluation of environmental conditions in two cities of east Siberia using bio-indication methods (fluctuating asymmetry value and mutagenic activity of soils). Int J Biol 7:20–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snyder SB, Richard MJ, Thilsted JP, Drewien RC, Lewis JC (1992) Lead poisoning in a whooping crane. In: Wood DA (ed) Proceedings 1988 North American Crane workshop. State of Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission Nongame Wildlife Program Technical Report #12, Tallahassee, FL, pp 207–210

  • Taggart MA, Figuerola J, Green AJ, Mateo R, Deacon C, Osborn D, Meharg AA (2006) After the Aznalcollar mine spill: arsenic, zinc, selenium, lead and copper levels in the livers and bones of five waterfowl species. Environ Res 100:349–361

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tchounwou PB, Yedjou CG, Patlolla AK, Sutton DJ (2012) Heavy metals toxicity and the environment. EXS 101:133–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Teraoka H, Kumagai Y, Iwai H, Haraguchi K, Ohba T, Nakai K, Satoh H, Sakamoto M, Momose K, Masatomi H, Hiraga T (2007) Heavy metal contamination status of Japanese cranes (Grus japonensis) in east Hokkaido, Japan-extensive mercury pollution. Environ Toxicol Chem 26:307–312

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Teraoka H, Tagami Y, Kudo M, Miura Y, Okamoto E, Matsumoto F, Koga K, Uebayashi A, Shimura R, Inoue M, Momose K, Masatomi H, Kitazawa T, Hiraga T, Subramanian A (2012) Changes of mercury contamination in red-crowned cranes, Grus japonensis, in East Hokkaido, Japan. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 63:153–160

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Teraoka H, Okamoto E, Kudo M, Nakayama SM, Ikenaka Y, Ishizuka M, Endo T, Kitazawa T, Hiraga T (2015) Accumulation properties of inorganic mercury and organic mercury in the red-crowned crane Grus japonensis in east Hokkaido, Japan. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 122:557–564

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamada Y (2007) Hooded crane. Bird Res News 4:4–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W, Feng H, Chang J, Qu J, Xie H, Yu L (2009) Heavy metal contamination in surface sediments of Yangtze River intertidal zone: an assessment from different indexes. Environ Pollut 157:1533–1543

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Drs. N. Mizuno and K. Haraguchi for technical guidance and Mr. and Mrs. Momose for arrangement of specimens and a hooded crane range map. We sincerely thank International Crane Foundation for the permission of use of a hooded crane range map. This work was partially supported by Akiyama Life Science Foundation (H.T.) and by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT)-Supported Program for the Strategic Research Foundation at Private Universities, 2013–2017 (J.N.).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, 069-8501, Japan

    Hiroki Teraoka, Hasumi Miyagi, Takio Kitazawa & Jun Noda

  2. NPO Tancho Protection Group, Kushiro, 085-0036, Japan

    Hiroki Teraoka

  3. Izumi City Crane Museum Crane Park Izumi, 1000 Bunka Cho, Izumi, Kagoshima, 899-0208, Japan

    Yuko Haraguchi

  4. Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan

    Kozo Takase

Authors
  1. Hiroki Teraoka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hasumi Miyagi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yuko Haraguchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kozo Takase
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Takio Kitazawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jun Noda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hiroki Teraoka.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Teraoka, H., Miyagi, H., Haraguchi, Y. et al. Contamination Status of Seven Elements in Hooded Cranes Wintering in South-West Kyushu, Japan: Comparison with Red-Crowned Cranes in Hokkaido, Japan. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 75, 557–565 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-018-0541-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-018-0541-y

Search

Navigation